Deviance and Social Control

Deviance and Social Control Chapter 7

Social Control • Strategies for regulating human behavior in any society • at all levels-family, peers, bureaucratic organizations • most respect and accept social norms • assume others will do the same • if they don’t, they face punishment through informal and formal sanctions • problem-people receive competing messages on how to behave

Social Control • State or government may clearly define acceptable behavior, friends or fellow employees may encourage quite different behavior patterns • Functionalist-must respect social norms if a group can survive-societies could not function if massive amounts of people defied standards of appropriate behavior • Conflict Theorists-widespread resistance to social norms was necessary to overthrow slavery

Binge Drinking • Scott Krueger-96.7% average, well-liked, well rounded, close to his family • September, 1997-told sister he had to get off the phone-fraternity pledge class had a big night ahead-class had to drink a certain amount collectively • several hours later-Scott lay comatose in an emergency room-hair matted with vomit-blood alcohol was 4.1 (5x the standard for drunken driving in Mass.) • died a few days later

Binge Drinking • Not unusual for college students-2 out of 5 college students binge drink (at least 5 drinks in a row for men and four in a row for women) • those who live in a Greek Fraternity-rates are even higher-4 out of 5 • difficult social problem-can be regarded as deviant (-violating the standards of conduct expected of those in an academic setting)-Considered the most serious public health hazard on college campuses by Harvard

Binge Drinking • 50 fatalities per year-hundreds of cases of alcohol poisoning, increases the likelihood of falling behind in school work, getting injured, damaging property • occasional binge drinkers than non-binge drinkers are 5x more likely to experience 5 or more alcohol related problems • frequent binge drinkers-22x more likely • <Scott Krueger

Binge Drinking • Secondary Effects include: • public disturbances, drunk driving, unwelcome sexual advances (3 out of 4 report secondary effects) • also represent conformity-(going along with peers)-especially in fraternities and sororities-social centers of the campus • “everybody does it-no big deal” • 5 drinks in a row is typical-

Binge Drinking • Universities are taking steps to stop it-social control • Banning kegs, closing fraternities and sororities, encouraging liquor retailers not to sell in high volume to students, expelling students after three alcohol related infractions

Conformity and Obedience • Social control works on both the group and societal level • Stanley Milgram made a distinction between the levels of social control • Conformity-going along with your peers • Obedience-compliance with higher authorities in a hierarchical structure • military recruit conforms to the habits and language of other recruits and obeys their superior officer

Conformity and Obedience • Discussion of: • 1. List the elements of Social Control that are placed on you daily • 2. Count the number of times you have been under social control daily • 3. Count the number of times you have been conformed today: give examples • 4. Count the number of times you’ve been made to obey: give examples

Conformity • To prejudice- • people may conform to the attitudes and behaviors of their peers even when such expressions means intolerance towards others • a 1991 study concluded that statements people overhear others make influence their own opinion on the issue of racism

Obedience • Would you comply with an experimenter’s request to give increasingly painful electric shocks? • Most would say no! • <Stanley Milgram found otherwise-most of us will obey such orders • experiment-advertised for an experiment at Yale-people from all walks of life showed • they were broken into two groups-Teacher and Learner

Obedience • Even though it seemed as though the learners ad the teachers were randomly chosen, the teachers were always the ones who were brought in by the ads, the learners were always the associate to Milgram • a 45 watt shock is given to everyone to prove the “authenticity” of the experiment and the teachers are told that no permanent damage will incur • the learners are scripted to reactions at different levels of wattage-i.e. at 150 volts-”Experimenter, get me out of here”

Obedience • 270-scream in agony, 350-learner would fall silent • if the teacher wanted to stop- “The experiment requires that you continue” and “you have no other choice; you must go on” • a sample of psychiatrists predicted that virtually all would refuse except pathological fringe • yet 2/3rds fell into the category of obedient subjects • Milgram concluded that it was fulfilling the social role as experimenter

Obedience • Pointed out-in industrial world-we are accustomed to submitting to impersonal authority figures • status of authority is either by title, uniform, authority viewed as larger and more important than the individual • individual shifts responsibility to the authority • saw themselves as merely doing their duty • Interactionalists point out-that teachers were less likely to administer the shock as they were moved physically closer to the learner • trying to understand the Germans in WWII-he suggested that the US would have been able to find personnel to fill the death camps if in US

Asch’s Study of Conformity • Set up a conformity experiment as a class • Asch put cards with lines on it • deliberate misgivings • see if you can come up with a like experiment-Milgram or Asch • 1. Give a proposal, 2. Decide on thesis, 3. Set the methodology, 4. Plan the experiment

Informal Social Controls • Sanctions are used to encourage conformity and obedience • informal social control-casually enforced norms-examples-smiles, laughter, raising an eyebrow, ridicule • parental use of corporal punishment-spanking, slapping and kicking a child viewed as necessary by many parents to maintain authority • child development specialists is inappropriate because it teaches children violence to solve problems

Informal and Formal Social Control • 1998 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics-corporal punishment is not effective and can be harmful-59% of Pediatricians support the use of corporal punishment at least in certain situations • informal is not adequate, then formal social control is carried out • Formal Social Control-carried out by authorized agents-police officers, physicians, school administrators, employers, military officers, managers of movie theaters

Formal Social Control • Increasingly significant social control is to jail people-5.5 million undergo some correctional supervision-1 in 30 adult Americans • cultures vary in behaviors subject to social norms • -Singapore-gum chewing prohibited, feeding birds leads to fines up to $645 and failing to flush the toilet is $95-death penalty is mandatory for murder, drug trafficking, crimes with firearms

Formal Social Control • Surveillance cameras in public places • supporters believe it will make the public feel more secure, cheaper to install cameras than to employ a police officer • critics-brings to mind George Orwell’s 1984-’Big Brother is watching.’- authoritative government watching every move

Laws and Society • Some norms are so important that they are formalized into laws • Law is governmental social control • some like murder are directed to all members of society-others-like fishing regulations-are intended for those who use it-others are for the behavior of social institutions • reflects continually changing standards

Law and Society • Some become increasingly difficult to enforce-55 MPH speed limit, 1919 Prohibition law • not external pressure that makes us obey, but the internalization of norms that we believe are valid and desirable • Control Theory-our connection to members of society leads us to systematically conform to society’s norms

Deviance • Behavior that violates the standards of conduct or expectations of a group or society • US-alcoholics, compulsive gamblers, mentally ill • late for class is a deviant act, dressing too casual for a formal wedding • by definition-we are all deviant from time to time • overweight-is this deviance?

Deviance • Beauty Myth-exaggerated ideal of beauty-beyond the reach of of all but a few females • unfortunate consequences-in order to shed their deviant image-conform to (unrealistic) societal norms-women and girls become consumed with adjusting their appearances • Nigeria-being fat is a sign of beauty-thin is deviant • relative to place and time-6 PM drink is common-breakfast is deviant

Deviance • Deviance is hardly objective • subject to social definitions • those groups with the greatest status and power define deviance • example by tobacco-acceptable until a long hard campaign changed it • becomes part of the person’s identity-stigmatization • Stigma-labels a society uses to devalue members of certain social groups

Stigmas • Once assigned a deviant role-have trouble presenting a positive image to others • Prevailing beauty and body types may prevent people seen as ugly or obese from rapidly advancing • overweight and anorexic people are seen as weak in character • may be viewed as disfigured or strange • Goffman calls this- “spoiled identity”

Stigmas • It is a matter of interpretation • of the 1 million cosmetic procedures done in the US-many are performed on women deemed normal by the society • some are stigmatized by those behaviors that they no longer engage in • compulsive gambler, ex-convict, recovering alcoholic, ex-mental patient • not necessarily guilty-homeless • some stigmatize, others do not

Deviance and Technology • Anonymity of internet use has brought about uncivil behavior • online community bulletin boards must be policed because of people using them for commercial purposes • call for established rules for the internet • some are criminal-but not seen that way-pirating of software, movies, CD’s

Explaining Deviance • Why do people violate social norms? • Early explanation-supernatural or genetic (bad blood or throwbacks to primitive ancestors) • Functionalists-common part of human existence-defines the limits of proper behavior • <Durkheim-mainly on criminal acts-punishment established help to define acceptable behavior and contribute to stability

Durkheim’s Explanation • Improper acts are committed then not sanctioned, that would stretch the limit of appropriate behavior • 17th Century Puritans-and their execution of women deemed witches and persecution of Quakers-their changing social norms created crime waves-people whose behavior was acceptable suddenly faced punishment for being deviant • Anomie-loss of direction in a society when social control of individual behavior becomes ineffective • state of normlessness-occurs during a period of profound social change and disorder

Merton’s Theory of Deviance • Behavior that violates accepted norms may have the same purpose as those that do not • mugger and secretary-both looking to get money to exchange for desired goods • uses Durkheim’s anomie theory • US-success is an important goal-measured largely by money • culture provides this goal and gives instructions on how to get it-go to school, work hard, do not quit, take advantage of opportunities • people adapt in certain ways-either conforming or deviating from cultural expectations

Merton’s Theory of Deviance • Anomie Theory of Deviance-five basic forms of adaptation • 1. Conformity to norms-most common form-opposite of deviance-acceptance of the overall societal goal, and the approved means to get it • 2. Innovator-accepts the goals of society-pursues them with means regarded as improper • -example-Harry King-professional thief-specialized in safe cracking-saw criminal life as an adaptation to the goal of material success • 3. Ritualist-abandoned the goal of material success and become a compulsively committed to the institutional means

Merton’s Theory of Deviance • Work becomes a way of life, rather than a means to the goal of success • example-bureaucratic official who blindly applies rules and regulations • 4. Retreatist-withdrawn from both the goals and the means of society • example-drug addicts, residents on skid row-adolescents addicted to alcohol become retreatists at a young age • 5. Rebel-people’s attempts to create a new social structure-feel alienated from the dominant means and goals-may seek dramatically different social order • example-Irish Republican Army, right wing militia groups • Merton was not trying to define an individual

Merton’s Theory of Deviance • Mafia may go to church, individual may cheat on his taxes, violate traffic laws • same person will move back and forth from one mode of adaptation to another • has had relatively few applications • contribution comes in the pointing out of the fact that deviants, such as innovators, ritualists, have a lot in common with conformers • Deviants are socially created behaviors, rather than pathological impulses

Interactionalist Explanation of Deviance • Explains how a given person comes to commit a deviant act • emphasis on everyday behavior • reflected in two explanations of crime-cultural transmission and routine activities theory • 1. Cultural Transmission- “taggers”-teenagers achieve fame by spray painting bridges, electrical boxes, poles etc.-in the San Fernando Valley • gain respect from their peers by being “up the most” on the wall

Cultural Transmission Approach • Displaying the flashiest styles • even parents may tolerate or endorse behavior- “at least my kid is not shooting people….” • teenagers demonstrate that they learn how to behave in social situations • undergoes the same basic socialization process whether learning deviant or conforming act • one learns criminal behavior through interaction with others • learn: techniques, motives, drives, rationalization of criminals • explain the people who engage in habitual, and often life threatening, use of alcohol or drugs

Cultural Transmission Approach • Differential Association-exposure to attitudes favorable to criminal acts leads to violation of rules • can explain non-criminal deviant acts such as sitting down during the National Anthem or lying to a friend • amount or extent-depends on frequency, duration, importance • critics claim-may explain juvenile delinquent, does not explain the first time impulsive shoplifter, impoverished person who steals out of necessity

Routine Activities Theory • Must be at the same time a perpetrator, a victim, and/or an object of property • contend that criminal victimization is increased when motivated offenders, suitable targets converge • example-cars-the greater concentration of desirable cars heightens the likelihood that such a crime would occur • vehicles left in isolation for periods of time in airport or campus parking lots are a marked example

Routine Activities Theory • Routine activity of this nature could start at home • example-adults buy liquor in bulk, making it easier for a teenager to siphon off contents without attracting attention to their crime • “routine” comes from-elements of the criminal or deviant act come together in normal, legal and routine activities • believers say that this explains the increase in crime in the last 50 years • vacant from adult supervision at home

Routine Activities Theory • Recent support-1992 post Hurricane Andrew report-certain crimes increase as citizens become more vulnerable • not only focuses on the behavior of the criminal but that of the victim • need to resist the temptation that race or ethnicity play a bigger role in this theory

Labeling theory • The Saints and the Roughnecks-both are engaged in excessive drinking, reckless driving, truancy, petty theft, vandalism • no saints arrested, every roughneck was arrested • social class played a role in the arrests • Saints produced a fake respectability-came from “good families”, active in school community, intention of going to college, received good grades- • viewed delinquent acts as “sowing wild oats”

Labeling Theory • How a person comes to be labeled a deviant, not the individual act of deviance • also known as Societal Reaction Approach-the response to an act, not the act itself, that makes it deviant • example-school personnel may take a learning disabled program and expand it to include a behavior problem type-even though they may not have a learning disability • therefore-a “troublemaker” could be improperly labeled as learning disabled

Labeling Theory • Focuses on police, probation officers, psychiatrists, judges, teachers, employers, school officials and others of social control • Racial Profiling is the latest to come under this study • how much power one has is important to resisting labels • not the sole explanation of deviance • Social Constructionist Perspective-deviance is a product of our culture

Conflict Theory • Not considered rape when a husband forced wife, without her consent, to have intercourse • reflected the overwhelming male presence in the state legislatures • by 1996, husbands in all 50 states could be prosecuted under most circumstances for the rape of their wives • Sociologist Richard Quinney-claims the justice system serves the interests of the powerful

Conflict Theory • Lawmaking is an attempt by the powerful to coerce others into their own morality • example-marijuana is outlawed because it is to its users-yet sell cigarettes and alcohol openly • justice system treats suspects of ethnic, racial and social class differently • example-William Kennedy Smith Rape Trial-OJ Simpson Trial-affluent can mount impressive defenses

Crime • Violation of criminal law for which some governmental authority applies formal penalties • Types of: • 1. Index Crime: 8 types reported by the FBI annually • murder, rape, robbery, theft, motor vehicle theft, arson (property) • 2. Professional Crimes-criminal pursues crimes day-by-day

Crime • Develops skills and techniques and gains a certain degree of status-reduces the risk of being caught, convicted, and imprisoned • 3. Organized Crime-regulates relations between various criminal enterprises • illegal businesses as corporations to legit business-has territories, sets prices, acts as an arbitrator • 4. White Collar Crime-affluent, “respectable” persons in the course of daily business activities commit crimes • distinctive social costs, lessen the quality of life, weaken the social order • 5. Victimless Crime-willing exchange between adults of widely desirable, but illegal goods and services • gambling, prostitution, marijuana

Death Penalty Debate • Read the Article and begin to process your argument on the death penalty • come up with evidence to back what you will use as your defense of your position

Deviance and Social Control